Overcoming Common Challenges in Workplace Learning

16/05/24

Stepping into the graduate world presents an exciting new chapter filled with opportunities for growth and development. However, it comes with a portion of challenges, especially when it comes to learning in the workplace. You may become uncertain about the best approach to learning in a professional setting due to the contrast between structured learning in university compared to the often more self-directed approach in the workplace. Read on as we provide you with the best strategies to conquer the obstacles in workplace learning and help you maximise your knowledge potential.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Finding Time for Learning

You may find you’re left with limited time amongst your daily responsibilities which leaves little capacity for learning. From project deadlines to multitudes of meetings, it can often feel like there’s no room left for development activities.

Strategies for Overcoming This Challenge:

Schedule Learning Time: Just like any important task, set aside time in your day for personal development. Allocate at least 30 minutes of learning activity into your calendar, the difference you’ll notice over time will be significant.

Utilise Downtime: Capitalise on quieter periods by updating yourself on the latest industry developments, listening to an educational podcast or even working towards completing an online module.

Discuss With Your Manager: Starting a conversation with your boss about your learning desires may trigger a positive result. Work together to see if allocation towards personal development is achievable within the working week.

Identifying What to Learn

Knowledge surrounds us everywhere we go and it’s often overwhelming to know what we should be focusing on. More often than not, you’ll find yourself jumping from one subject to the next without fully processing and digesting one particular area.

Strategies for Overcoming This Challenge:

Set Clear Goals: It’s critical to outline what you personally want to achieve in your career. Once you’ve done this, you can align your learning to help you meet those goals.

Ask for Recommendations: Seek the guidance of others, whether that’s managers or colleagues, to see what skills or areas you should be focusing your development on.

Start with Fundamentals: Beginning with the basics can provide your knowledge base with a strong foundation before advancing to more specialised topics.

Applying What You Learn

It’s great that you’ve acquired new information, but now you’re unsure on how to apply it effectively in your role. Without practical application, you can miss the mark with the relevancy to your job or even forget what you’ve learnt altogether.

Strategies for Overcoming This Challenge:

Implement Immediately: Don’t delay and look for opportunities to integrate you’re newly learnt knowledge and skills as soon as possible. Even small applications can reinforce your learning.

Reflect on Your Learning: Reflection on your learning journey can help you identify how it’s impacting your work. Track your progress to see how your acquired knowledge is affecting your process.

Seek Feedback: Share what you’re learning with those around you and ask for feedback on your integration of new skills and knowledge.

By adopting strategies to overcome these challenges, workplace learning can become a powerful tool for your career development. Those who are successful are those who continually learn day by day. So, make the most of the learning opportunities presented to you and use them to thrive in your professional life.

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